This comes as Met Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe warned that a terrorist attack in the UK is a matter of “when, not if.”

BY MIKE SULLIVAN, CRIME EDITOR

1st August 2016, 4:15 pm

Updated: 1st August 2016, 4:15 pm

AN ELITE team of counter-terrorism gun cops are now on round-the-clock standby and ready for action, it was revealed yesterday.

Their permanent presence in the capital for the first time comes as the Met Police is increasing its overall roving armed response teams by three-fold.

Demotix Images

The specialist police officers were first unveiled at the England vs France match after the terror attacks in Paris

Numbers of specialist firearms officers are also being boosted in other British cities over fears of strikes by marauding gangs of terrorists or lone wolf attacks like the Bastille Day atrocity in Nice which killed 84.

Reports suggest shopping centres and sports stadiums are are at potential risk.

And Met Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe warned at the weekend that a terrorist attack in the UK is a matter of “when, not if.”

He said:“Our threat level has been at "Severe" for two years - it remains there. It means an attack is highly likely - you could say it is a case of when not if.”

Sir Bernard issued a 1,264-word blog to reassure and inform the public about measures being taken by security forces to combat the threat from ISIS-inspired terrorism in the wake of this month’s
carnage in Europe.

He said: “We have all watched the recent terrorist atrocities unfold with a terrifying and depressing sense of horror and dread.

“Now that with each new outrage, and especially those on our doorstep in Europe, there is a greater sense of fear that Britain will be the next victim in this wave of cruel and mindless mass murder.

London News Pictures Ltd

Armed police officers watch over fans at Wembley Stadium ahead of a friendly game between England and France.

“I feel and understand that fear and as the police officer in charge of preventing such an attack know that you want me to reassure you. I am afraid I cannot do that entirely.”

Numbers of Met armed officers are being increased by 600 to around 2,800, with the dedicated unit of Counter-Terrorism Specialist Firearms now available 24 hours a day for the first time, said Sir
Bernard.

The team, part of the Met’s SCO19 firearms command, have lightweight, semi-automatic SIG 516 rifles, wear military fatigues and combat helmets.

Members of the unit work with UK special forces like the SAS and SBS, and are trained to abseil from helicopters and operate in marine conditions.

The counter-terrorism firearms unit was publicly unveiled for the first time last November at an England vs France football match at Wembley, shortly after the Paris terror attacks.

At that time there were 130 members of the CT gun team, male and female officers solely dedicated to dealing with potential terrorist incidents, but their strength is believed to have increased since then and shift patterns changed to provide constant cover.

EPA

Numbers of Met armed officers are being increased by 600 to around 2,800, with the dedicated unit of Counter-Terrorism Specialist Firearms now available 24 hours a day for the first time

Sir Bernard stressed that armed officers are also being trained to go forward toward the terrorist threat – and not back away from it.

He said: “We have increased the number of specially trained and equipped officers who would go forward and confront these kinds of heavily armed terrorists.

“Initially, this was through longer shifts. Now our resilience has increased as all Met officers who carry a gun have been trained to go forward and take the initiative, in the face of a new terrorist threat."

He added: “We tell the public to "Run, Hide, Tell". We ask these officers to run in the opposite direction to you.

“They are paid no more for this, they have families, they are as attached to living life as us all, but they do this for you.

“They do this knowing that their split second decision making will be scrutinised in post-incident investigations that can sometimes last night many years.”

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Sir Bernard, whose force have overall responsibility for co-ordinating national counter-terrrorism policing, said several plot to kill cops and armed services personnel have been foiled since the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby at South London’s Woolwich Barracks in 2013.

He said a number of factors made Britain “hostile” territory for terrorists, including its intelligence and the “world beater” relationship between police and MI5 and nationwide regional hubs of specialist counter-terror teams.

Sir Bernard went on: “Our gun controls and the simple fact we are an island mean that terrorists in the UK would struggle to get the firearms required to repeat attacks similar to those we have seen on the Continent.

“This gives a solid base as it means the UK environment is immediately hostile to the terrorist.”

He said “the British way of life and culture” was another advantage along with a mainly unarmed police service, giving the nation “a far healthier relationship with the people we police.”

PA:Press Association

Sir Bernard, whose force have overall responsibility for co-ordinating national counter-terrrorism policing, said several plot to kill cops and armed services personnel have been foiled since the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby at South London’s Woolwich Barracks in 2013

The commissioner also hailed British “tolerance and acceptance” to race and religion as a key factor in suppressing terrorism.

He said: “Our approach to Muslims is no different because these attacks purport to be committed in the name of Islam.

“We don't stigmatise the millions of British Muslims whose values and faith completely reject the terrorists' litany of hate.

“We are a nation that accepts difference but builds communities with shared values. We should be proud of that - it is another reason why the UK is a hostile environment for those intent on murderous
terrorism.

“It means that the vigilance of our officers is backed-up by millions more eyes and ears. These are whole communities united in defeating terrorism.”

Sir Bernard urged the public to remain vigilant – but to carry on with their life as normal.

He said : “I realise that some of what I am telling you today is not reassuring. I hope that some of it is more so.

“The threat we all face is very real, no-one watching events in Europe can think otherwise, but it is important that we have a shared understanding of the work that goes on every day to stop attacks
happening and to prepare for the time when we are faced with this terrifying threat.”

London News Pictures Ltd

Sir Bernard urged the public to remain vigilant – but to carry on with their life as normal.

AC Rowley urged the public to help combat the terrorist menace by reporting anything suspicious.
Describing co-operation between police and the community as ''our biggest advantage,'' AC Rowley revealed how the public provide at least 3,639 ''contributions'' every day in the effort against terrorism.

He said: ''Every call, every referral, every briefing is part of our joint fight against terrorism.

"The information we receive helps our investigations, intelligence-gathering and preventative work, they help us carry out significant protective security operations, they help us get the right support for vulnerable people and they undermine the plans of terrorists.

"Indeed, some of our highest priority investigations have benefitted from information from communities.

''However, with the enduring severity of the threat, we need even more public assistance to help keep us all safe.''